Robotics & Automation News

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Forvia increases logistics productivity with fleet of MiR robots

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Forvia, an automotive technology company, says it has increased its logistics productivity, strengthened stability of production processes and decreased safety risks with a fleet of robots from Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR).

The return of investment from the 14 autonomous mobile robots (AMR) working in the Faurecia Clean Mobility plant in Písek, Czech Republic, was less than two years.

Seven of Forvia’s heavy duty MiR robots, mainly MiR600s, work in finished goods, bringing empty pallets to the assembly lines and picking up full pallets to transport to the logistics area. The second area, where MiR250 robots operate, moves components from the warehouse to assembly lines. The robots in the plant work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, covering all three operation shifts. [Read more…] about Forvia increases logistics productivity with fleet of MiR robots

Drilling company Nabors fully automates existing land rig with first-of-its-kind robotics module

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Nabors Industries has launched its Canrig Red Zone Robotics (RZR) Rig Floor Module, a modular rig upgrade that automates routine drilling activities.

Nabors retrofitted an existing rig – X29 – with RZR (pronounced razor) and has successfully drilled multiple horizontal wells for ExxonMobil in the Permian Basin.

In 2021, Nabors and ExxonMobil proved fully automated land drilling is possible with Nabors’ newbuild R801 robotic drilling rig. Now, the companies have advanced to the next phase of their collaboration to validate the use of modular rig retrofits as a viable path to scale drilling rig automation. [Read more…] about Drilling company Nabors fully automates existing land rig with first-of-its-kind robotics module

Walmart makes Brain Corp ‘the world’s largest supplier of inventory scanning robots’

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Sam’s Club, a membership warehouse club and a division of Walmart, has completed a national, chain-wide rollout of “Inventory Scan” towers that have been added to its existing fleet of robotic scrubbers in partnership with Brain Corp, a provider of artificial intelligence for robots.

In doing so, Walmart has made Brain Corp “the world’s largest supplier of inventory scanning robots”, according to the company.

Todd Garner, vice president, in-club product management, says: “Our initial goal at Sam’s Club was to convert time historically spent on scrubbers to more member-focused activities. [Read more…] about Walmart makes Brain Corp ‘the world’s largest supplier of inventory scanning robots’

ICE Cobotics chooses IoT system from T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom

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ICE Cobotics has chosen T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom’s T IoT as its exclusive IoT connectivity solution worldwide to help its customers more easily manage fleets of the company’s floor cleaning robots.

As part of the long-term agreement, T IoT – a comprehensive solution for global IoT connectivity, platform management and support – will deliver cellular connectivity to more than 7,500 new and existing ICE Cobotics intelligent and autonomous cleaning units across the world.

This includes their newest product, Cobi 18, a compact autonomous floor scrubber which is designed to clean 5,000 to 7,000 square feet per hour, starting at less than $20 a day. [Read more…] about ICE Cobotics chooses IoT system from T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom

Peer Robotics raises $2.3 million in seed funding round

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Peer Robotics, a new mobile robotics solution for manufacturing, has raised $2.3 million in seed funding led by Kalaari Capital, with participation from existing investors Axilor Ventures, Connecticut Innovations and Innopact VC.

Rishabh Agarwal, co-founder, and CEO of Peer Robotics, says: “Small and medium-size companies are struggling with the labor shortage today, not to mention high turn-over.

“Also, many operations are still manual with employees operating at a high risk of injuries and fatigue. Solutions to date have been too expensive and complex. [Read more…] about Peer Robotics raises $2.3 million in seed funding round

Seoul Robotics demonstrates technology that enables cars to park themselves

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Imagine driving a car – one without self-driving capabilities – to a mall, airport or parking garage, and using an app to have the car drive off to park itself. Software company Seoul Robotics is using Nvidia technology to make this possible – turning non-autonomous cars into self-driving vehicles.

Headquartered in Korea, the company’s initial focus is on improving first- and last-mile logistics such as parking. Its Level 5 Control Tower is a mesh network of sensors and computers placed on infrastructure around a facility, like buildings or light poles – rather than on individual cars – to capture an unobstructed view of the environment.

The system enables cars to move autonomously by directing their vehicle-to-everything, or so-called V2X, communication systems. These systems pass information from a vehicle to infrastructure, other vehicles, any surrounding entities – and vice versa. V2X technology, which comes standard in many modern cars, is used to improve road safety, traffic efficiency and energy savings. [Read more…] about Seoul Robotics demonstrates technology that enables cars to park themselves

Acieta unveils new collaborative robotic system for welding

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Acieta has unveiled a new collaborative robotic system for welding. The company says the new “FastARC” cobot can pay back customers’ investment “in as little as six months”.

Acieta says that “everyone is struggling to hire and retain good laborers, especially those with welding skills”. But when the position is unfilled, a welding system sits idle and doesn’t make a profit.

Companies simply cannot afford to wait for the next skilled welder to walk through the door. The labor pool is dwindling and there’s fierce competition to attract those individuals. [Read more…] about Acieta unveils new collaborative robotic system for welding

Tennant introduces lithium-ion technology to its autonomous floor cleaning machines

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Tennant Company, a manufacturer of robotic floor cleaners, has introduced lithium-ion technology to its portfolio of autonomous floor cleaning machines, including the T380AMR, T7AMR, and T16AMR.

This new advanced battery technology provides added benefits to customers across the world in the cleaning industry.

Tennant Company and partner Brain Corp, a leader in the robotics market, have engineered a portfolio of autonomous floor scrubbers and together they have deployed over 5,400 robotic scrubbers, representing the world’s largest fleet of autonomous floor scrubbers. [Read more…] about Tennant introduces lithium-ion technology to its autonomous floor cleaning machines

Kärcher and Brain Corp debut first professional robotic scrubber

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Kärcher has expanded its autonomous product line by introducing a professional robotic scrubber. The KIRA B 100 R is powered by Brain Corp’s BrainOS, a software platform for powering autonomous mobile robots operating in indoor public spaces.

KIRA is an acronym for Kärcher Intelligent Robotic Applications.

Rex Shull, VP of product management and engineering, says: “We at Kärcher are pleased to offer yet another innovative robotic solution. [Read more…] about Kärcher and Brain Corp debut first professional robotic scrubber

Walmart to roll out inventory analytics function to fleet of robotic floor cleaners

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Walmart business unit Sam’s Club – a membership warehouse club – is planning the national, chain-wide roll out of “Inventory Scan”, a new inventory analytics function which will be added to the its existing fleet of robotic scrubbers.

The implementation will be undertaken in partnership with software company Brain Corp and Tennant Company, the manufacturer of the vehicle.

The rollout marks the largest and fastest technology deployment undertaken by Brain Corp – which provides the operating system for the robotic floor cleaners – and the first commercial application of its inventory scanning technology anywhere in the world. [Read more…] about Walmart to roll out inventory analytics function to fleet of robotic floor cleaners